Machine and method of bending the ends of a spring strip and providing an arch form thereto



Feb. 27; 1962 P. 3,022,804

M. CORP I MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING Filed Dec. 8, 1954 STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO 1O Sheets-Sheet 1 I ll 2 l1 Feb. 27, 1962 P. M. coRP MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO Filed Dec. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M Co 77-0 FIVE/s Feb. 27, 1962 P. M. CORP 3,022,804

MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO Filed Dec. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. /%zz/ )7, Co r Feb. 27, 1962 P M CORP 3,822,804

MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRIN STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO Filed Dec. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

E BY

Feb. 27, 1962 P. M. CORP 3,022,804

MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO Filed Dec. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

l El

Feb. 27, 1962 P. coRP 3,022,804

MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 8, 1954 INVENTOR. 74a; 6'4 7'2 BY /%/)/W, 8 *m.

ror/vz/S Feb. 27, 1962 'P. M. CORP 3,022,804

MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO Filed Dec. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TOR. )Qw/ /V. 047

BY V

rraF/vZ/ M. CORP 3,022,804 OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING Feb. 27, 1962 p MACHINE AND METHOD AN ARCH FORM THERETO 1o Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 8, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

w W, flay/KKK P. M. CORP Feb. 27, 1962 MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO 1O Sheets$heet 9 Filed Dec. 8, 1954 INVENTOR. fizz/M 007 2 BY rain 5V Feb. 27, 1962 P. M. CORP 3,022,804

MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO ,Filed Dec. 8, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 IN V EN TOR. faza/ 60 7 BY %WM,

7-0 yzvz/s Unite States Patent Patented Feb. 27,1962

3,022,804 MACHINE AND METHOD OF BENDING THE ENDS OF A SPRING STRIP AND PROVIDING AN ARCH FORM THERETO Paui M. Corp, Bloomfield Hills, Mich, assignor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 8, 1954, Ser. No. 473,859 16 Claims. (Cl. 140-71) This invention relates to spring strip bending machines, and particularly to a machine for bending a strip of irregular undulated wire into predetermined form.

Heretofore spring strips were made in a machine which continuously formed oppositely disposed loops joined by straight portions which were uniform throughout the length thereof.

A new type of spring has been developed which has straight portions extending transversely of the strips in the nature of torsion bars which are joined on the opposite sides by straight portions which are known as bendable bars. The torsion bars and bendable bars deform when loaded, caused by the twisting of the torsion bars and the bending of the bendable bars. The contour assumed bythe new spring strips, when loaded, is controlled by the lengthening or shortening of the torsion and bendable bars. When the bending bars are shortened, the torsion bars are disposed closer together and produce in their area a softer or weaker type of supporting area, while the bending bar tends to increase the support of the area. However, the torsional force is relied upon as the controlling force, and by disposing the torsion bars closer together, the same result is effected as lengthening the bars in that area which weakens the support provided thereby. The actual change in length of the torsion bars produces the same result. A machine for producing such a varying type of spring strip is illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of Richard J. Williams, Serial No. 291,606, filed June 4, 1952, now Patent No. 2,744,546, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The present machine operates on the spring strips thus formed to bend the ends thereof in a predetermined manner to provide supports for thecentral load supporting portion of the strip. At the same time, certain of the bending bars are arched the same or different amounts to produce a crown to the load supporting portion of the strip. The machine is so constructed that it is of the universal type for operating on ditierent lengths of strips and strips having diiIerent variations in the spacing of the torsion bars by the different lengths of the bendable bars disposed in right-angle relation thereto.

Accordingly, the main objects of the inventionare: to provide a machine which bends the end portions of a fiat spring strip which varies in formation throughout its length to provide supporting ends therefor; to provide a machine which bends the bendable bars extending lengthwise of the strip the same or different amounts in order to produce a contour to the resulting load supporting portion thereof; to provide a machine which bends the ends of spring strips to provide attaching and supporting portions therefor, with adjustable operating elements so that the machine is universal to operate on spring strips of different lengths and different formations and, in general, to provide a machine for bending straight lengths of varying wire strips into predetermined formation which is adjustable to conform to strips of different formation and lengths, which is positive in operation to produce the desired shape in the resulting strip.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken plan view, with parts in section, of a machine for operating on a fiat spring strip of varying formation, which embodies features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the left-hand side of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the right-hand side of the machine as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of the machine illustrated in FIG. 4, as viewed from line 55 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken on the line 6-6 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken on the line 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGJ3 taken on the line 8-45 thereof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken on the line 1010 thereof;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 11-11 thereof;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the driving mechanism empioyed for operating the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 13 is a plan View of a sinuously formed strip which is operated on by the machine of the present invention, and

FIG. 14 is a view in elevation of the strip illustrated in FIG. 13 after being formed in the machine of the present invention. 7

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a machine is illustrated for bending a sprirn strip 15 illustrated in FIG. 13 into desired formation, such as that illustrated at 16 in FIGS. 11 and 13. The strip embodies a new type of spring made from wire and bent to have parallel torsion bars 16 joined at the ends'by bendable bars 17, the lengths of which vary to change the spacing of the torsion bars 16. This strip is made in a machine disclosed and claimed in the above mentioned application. At the point of bend of the load supporting portion of the bar, the side bars 13 may slope to shorten the torsion bars 19 which are bent to produce the end portions of the spring which are attached to a border wire which confines the central load supporting portion 21; of the resulting spring unit. Certain of the bendable bars 17 within the load supporting portion 21 are bent to provide an arcuate contour to the resulting spring unit, as illustrated in FIG. 11. This bending of the bendable bars occurs during the operation of the machine to bend the end supporting sections thereof.

The machine has a central slot 22 in which the spring 15 is delivered automatically from the delivering mechanism illustrated in FIG. 6. Adjacent. to the ends of the slotted portion 22, three rotatable heads 23, 24 and 25 are provided on the righthand side of the slot, while similar rotatable heads 26, 27 and 23 are provided on the bendable bar-.36 isengagedby the head 23, with a adjustable toward and away made therein. In this arrangement,

, in clamped position during the twisting operation.

torsion bar 16 aligned with the center of the rotatable shaft 35 thereof. Similarly the bendable bar adjacent thereto is engaged by the head 24 with a torsion bar 16 aligned with the center of the rotatable shaft 35 thereof, and, a bendable bar 18 adjacent to the torsion bar 19 is engaged by the head 28, with the torsion bar aligned with the axis of the rotatable shaft 35 thereof. Upon the rotation of the head 23, the torsion bar 16 coaxially disposed relative thereto is twisted, forming an apex 41 in the strip, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 14. The heads 23, 26, and 27 are then retracted to clear the end of the spring, permitting the head 24 to then rotate in the op posite direction, forming the apex 42 on the spring strip end. The head 24 is then retracted to permit the head 28. to rotate in the. same direction to form the apex 43.

Similarly, the opposite end of the strip has the torsion bar 39 aligned with the shaft 35 of the head 34. which, when rotated, forms the apex 37 in the spring, as illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 14. The head 34 thereafter is retracted so that the head 29 may be rotated in the opposite direction to form the apex 38, after which the head 29 retracts. As will be described in greater detail. hereinafter, with this arrangement the remaining heads do not perform any function on the wire spring strip and, therefore, are, maintained in a retracted position. In this manner, through the movement of the heads toward andv away from each other, torsion. bars at opposite ends of the strip are simultaneously twisted while other torsion bars at the ends are twisted thereafter to produce the proper formation to the resulting spring strip.

In Flu. 11 the various heads are illustrated on the left-hand side of the central slot 22 Between the set of heads, a lower kinking bar 44 is illustrated, having angular-shaped anvils 45 thereon disposed midway of the length of a bendable bar 17 which rests thereon. An upper kinking bar 46 has recesses 47 aligned with the anvils 45 to engage the bendable bars 17 so that when the kinking heads move together, the bendable bars are then bent to a desired degree. It is to be understood that the kinking bars move outwardly into the slot and are retractable therefrom, the same as the heads, to clear the slot to permit the formed spring strip to drop therethrough and to be automatically ejected from the machine. After the strip is ejected, the lower kinking bar is advanced outwardly and a flat spring strip is dropped thereon and accurately positioned within the slot 22. Thereafter, the heads are advanced to engage the portions of the springs, with the torsion bars to be twisted aligned with the rotatable shafts 35, while the other heads retain the spring The twisting occurs progressively from the ends inwardly so that after the free end is twisted the heads which performed the operation will retract to free the end of the spring strip which is disposed outwardly of the torsion bar which is next to be twisted. During the twisting operations, the

upper kinking barrnoves outwardly and downwardly to first clamp and retain the strip in position until the clamping heads engage the spring, after which the kinking head moves further downwardly to bend the bendable bars. The kinking bars and heads are all retracted at the end of the operation, permitting the formed strip to fall from the machine, as pointed out hereinabove.

To produce the operation of the heads and bars, a pair of shafts t! and 51.are provided parallel with the slot 22 on the left and right-hand sides of the machine, respective-. ly. Cam disks 52, 53, 54, 55,56, 57, 58 and 59 are fixed to the-shaft 50, while cam disks 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 and 68 are fixed to the shaft 51 on the right-hand side of the machine. The shafts 5t and 51 are illustrated in FIG. 12 as having bevel gears 69- thereon matable with bevel levers 108 operated-by the cam disks 5S and 56. Thegears 71 which are connected by a shaft 72. The shaft is suitably supported in bearings 73 near each end thereof. The shaft 51 has asprocket wheel 74 thereon which is connected by a chain 75 to a sprocket wheel 76 ona shaft 77 of'a motor 78. The operation of the motor drives the shafts 51 and 52 through the chain and sprocket and bevel gear drive to have the shafts operate in unison at the same speed and in opposite directions. The cam plates 52, 53, 54, 57, 53 and 59 are employed to drive the heads 7, 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34, respectively, while the cam disks 61, 62, 63, 66, 67 and 68 drive the heads 24, 25, 26, 29, 3d and 31.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, a lever 81 has one end provided with a roller 82 which extends within a cam slot 83 in the face of the cam disk 68 The lever is secured substantially midway of its length on a pivot 84. The opposite end of the lever contains an arcuate slot 35 in which a pivot 86 is adjustable on a threaded rod 87 to be positioned at various points throughout the length of the slot 85. An adjustable link 88 has a universal connection 89 with a vertically movable bar 91. The bar has a series of teeth 92 thereon which mesh with the teeth 93 on the shaft 35 of the head 31. The shaft 35 is connected by a pin 94. to a block 95 which is secured by a pin 96 to a bell crank lever 97, the arm 98 of which has a roller 99 disposed within acam slot 101 in the opposite face of the cam disk 68. The bell crank is secured by a pivot 102 to the frame of the machine and the cams 83 and 101 are so formed and related to each other that the bell crank 97 is firstrockedto move the shaft 35forwardly, the dwell in the cam retaining the bellcrank against movement while the lever 81 is rocked to move the adjustable link 88upwardly and to. advance the bar 92 to have the teeth thereof in mesh with the teeth 9310f theshaft 35 tocause the shaft to rotate.

Through the adjustment of the link 38 and the position of the pivot 86 in the slot 85, the degree of rotationmay be changed to regulate-the degree of bend to be made in the torsion bar being twisted by the head. All of the cam plates 52 to 59., 61 to 68 are similarly constructed so. that all of the heads may be advanced, retracted and rotated a desirable amount. The adjustability of the universal joints 89 and 163; and the adjustability of the block 95 through the slot and bolt connection 104 permit the supporting mechanism 105 for each of the heads 23 to 34 inclusive to be shifted relative to each other in the slot 107 in the supporting structure. It will be noted, for instance, that the supporting mechanism 105 having the heads 32, 33 and 3.4. associated therewith is equally spaced, while the supporting mechanism 105 for the heads 29, 30 and 3 1 is mounted directly adjacent to each other. This adjustment permits the heads to be shifted relative to each other so as to properly engage the bendsion bars to be bent disposed in aligned relationwith the axis of the shafts, 35. It is to be understood that only certain of the heads. need be employed and that in such an arrangement the lever 81: and bell-crank 97 may be disconnected frornthe cam, disk; by. removal of the rollers 82 or 99 therefrom.

Referring toFIGS'. 1, 6;, Z and 11, the lower kinking block 44 ismovable towardand' from the slot-22 by the levers are, joined to heads 109 havingstuds'with, rollers. 11,1 thereon which extend between collars 112; on pairs of bars 113 connected to the lower kinking bar 44. The. rocking of the lever 108.causesthe blocks to move outwardly into the. slot 22 to receive; the spring strip which is supported thereby. The lower kinking block has the upper kinking block 46 secured thereon by a pivot 114. An adjustable clevis 115 supports a, link 116 which is pivoted toa link 117 in toggle relation therewith, having a slot 119. throughwhich a pin 121 extends which connects the links 116. and 117 to the end of the vertically movable link 122. The link 122 is connected to a bell crank operating lever 123 through a lost motion link 124. A pair of the link systems 115 to 124 is emplayed at each end of the top kinking bar 46 at each side of the slot 22, the bell crank levers 123 being operated by the cam disks 64 and 65 on the right-hand side of the machine and by the cam disks 55 and 56 on the left-hand side of the machine. The upper and lower kinking blocks have the operating mechanism therefor synchronized with the operation of the machine to have the upper kinking block swung backwardly and the lower kinking blosks retracted. Upon beginning the cycle of operation, the blocks are moved forwardly so that the spring strip may be supported on the lower kinking bars, after which the upper blocks move downwardly onto the wire to clamp the spring strip in desired position within the machine. During the further operation of the machine, pressure is applied to the upper blocks to kink the bendable bars of the strip between the anvil and adjacent recess portions 45 and 47 on the blocks. At the end of the operation, the upper kinking block is swung backwardly and both blocks on each side of the slot 22 are retracted, permitting the formed strip to drop into the slot and onto the sloping bottom plate 125 along which it slides to fall from the machine.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 11, the formed wire strips 15 are fed from a forming machine (not herein illustrated) onto spaced bars 131 The machine is disclosed and claimed in the above mentioned copending application, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As the formed springs are delivered to the pair of spaced bars 136, they are removed therefrom by a pair of spaced chains 131 driven over sprocket wheels 1'32 and 133. The chains have extending lugs 134 which are spaced therealong and which pick off one of the formed springs from the bars 130 and deliver it to a pair of sloping spaced bars 135. The formed springs slide downwardly on the bars 135 until the foremost spring strikes fingers 136 at the lower end thereof. The bars 135 are of substantial length so that a number of. the formed springs may be retained thereon at all times.

A pair of spaced arms 137 is secured to a shaft 138, pivoted in uprights 139. A shaft 141 extends through the arms 137 and through a lever 142 which is adjustably secured to the shaft 138 by a setscrew 143. A roller 144 is mounted on the end of the lever 142 in position to be engaged by a cam block 145 mounted on the rear portion 146 of a reciprocable plate 156. The ends of the arms 137 have a finger 147 extending beyond the finger 136 the width of the wire of the formed spring, with the upper edge 148 sloping toward the finger 136. When the arms 137 are moved upwardly due to the action of the cam block 145 on the roller 144 of the lever 142, the fingers 147 are moved upwardly carrying the foremost formed spring upwardly therewith above the sloping ends of the fingers 136, permitting the spring to move forwardly over the sloping ends of the fingers 136 and 147 and drop downwardly forwardly of the fingers 136. Upon the reverse movement of the cam block 145, the arms 137 drop downwardly, assisted by the action of the spring 149 below the top of the bars 135, permitting the formed springs to slide down to advance a formed spring against the fingers 136 above the ends of the fingers 147. In this manner, each time the arm 146 is reciprocated, a formed spring is delivered over the finger 136 and dropped downwardly beyond the 'forward face of the fingers. Projecting arms 151, having a forward sloping portion 152, provide assurance that the springs will drop straight downwardly along the face of the fingers 136. When the spring drops, the bottom portion of the loops strikes against a sloping projection 153, causing the bottom portion of the spring to move outwardly and the spring to fall fiat upon a plate 154 when in retracted position beneath the sloping projections 153.

The base 150 of the machine has a pair of ways 155 thereon in which the plate 156 is guided for reciprocal movement. The cam block 145 is secured to the rear portion 146 of the plate by the pair of screws 157. A shaft 158 is secured in hearings on the base 150 having an arm 159 thereon which is connected by an adjustable link 161 to a cam operated lever 162. The operation of the lever 162 revolves the shaft 158 angularly. Arms 163 are also secured to the shaft 158 connected by links 164 to bosses 165 on the reciprocal plate 156. A plurality of bolts 166 support the plate 154 forwardly of the reciprocal plate 156 to reciprocate therewith.

The plate 154 has recesses 167 therein in which the ends of pivoted fingers 168 extend. The recesses are of substantial length so that the fingers may be adjusted within the length thereof to engage one of the loops of the spring strip. The fingers, as illustrated in FIG. 5, are urged away from each other by a spring 169, which movement is limited to pins 171. The ends of the fingers 168 extend outwardly at 172 for preventing a loop of the spring from dropping therefrom when the loop is engaged by the fingers. The fingers are adjustably secured on a cross bar 173 which is secured to rods 174 which, as illustrated in FIG. 4, are movable vertically upwardly and downwardly through the operation of a gear 175 in mesh with teeth 176 cut in one face of the rods 174. The gear 175 is secured to a pinion 177, the teeth of which are engaged by teeth 178 of a sector 179 carried on one end of a lever 181, the opposite end of which is cam actuated.

The ends of the bar 173 have brackets 182 adjustably mounted thereon so that clamping mechanism 184 may engage the ends of the spring strip. A plate 185 is welded to each of the brackets 182 forming one anvil against which the end of the wire is engaged, and a C-shaped element 136 is pivotally secured on each bracket 182 by a bolt 187. A spring 188 extends between the lower end of the C-shaped element and the plate185 for urging the upper extending arm 189 of the bracket downwardly against the plate 185. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that a pair of arms 191 extends beneath the plate 154, having cam ends 192 projecting forwardly of the plate. The cam ends 192, as illustrated in FIG. 5, engage the bottom of the C-shaped elements 186 and rock them upwardly to raise the extending arm 189 from the plate 185 so that the end of the spring may be advanced thereunder.

After the plate 154 is retracted, the arms 137 are rocked upwardly, causing a spring to be delivered onto the plate. The cam actuated lever 162 is then rocked forwardly to rotate the shaft 158 and the levers 163 to ad- Vance the links 164 and the reciprocal plate 156, to thereby move the plate 154 and the spring disposed thereon toward the fingers 168 and the end clamping elements 184. During the advancement the arms 189 are raised from the plates 185 at each end of the assembly and the spring is advanced to have loops 193 thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 10, move over each set of four fingers 168 to be securely engaged thereby. Similarly, each end 194 of the spring moves between an arm 189 and plate 185 to be clamped therebetween by the action of the spring 188 upon the retraction of the arms 191 as the plates 154 and 156 are moved to retracted position. Near the end of such movement, the next adjacent formed spring is moved from the bars 135 over the finger 136 and dropped upon the plate 154. As soon as the plate 154 is retracted, the lever 181 is actuated to move the bars 173 downwardly, thereby lowering the formed spring onto the anvils 45 of the lower kinking block 44. Thereupon, the upper kinking block 46 moves downwardly to clamp the .wire on the anvils and the lever 181 is rocked back to its initial position, raising the rods 174 and moving the fingers 168 out of engagement with the loops 193 and moving the brackets 182 upwardly along therewith, permitting the end 194 to ride outwardly from the clamping elements 184 during the initial portion of the upper movement. The fingers and clamping elements are then in position to receive the next adjacent spring when the plate 154 supporting the spring is again advanced forwardly. After the springs are clamped between the kinking blocks 44 and 46, the torsion bars thereof are twisted and certain of the bendable bars are bent by the further pressure applied to the kinking blocks. The finished spring is then ejected from the machine when the twisting bars and kinking blocks are retracted in a manner as pointed out in detail hereinabove.

It will be noted that the twisting bars 23 to and the kinking blocks 44 and 46 on both sides of the slot 22 lie in a horizontal plane so that when a formed spring is clamped between the blocks the inward movement of the twisting bars 23 to 3.5 can engage the bending bars of the formed spring, with the torsion bars to be bent disposed on the center line thereof.

Each of the lower kinking blocks abuts the upper plate portion 196 when the blocks are advanced, the downward extremities of which form side walls 197 and 198 of the slot which support the sloping bottom plate 125, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

In the machine thus described, a plurality of levers are mounted on shafts 1% and 162 on the left and right-hand side of the slot 22 for the purpose of operating the twisting bars, the kinking blocks, the slides, the spring handling mechanisms operated from a plurality of cam plates supported on shafts 50 and 51' at the left and right-hand sides of the machine. The cam slots are not illustrated in detail for the sake of brevity, as anyone skilled in the art will understand the shape thereof and the location of the cam and dwell portions for moving the levers simultaneously and in sequence.

The operation of the machine follows. that above described of first conveying the formed springs from the arm 139 onto which they are delivered fromthe forming machine to the spaced. bars 135 by the pair of spaced conveyor chains 131. The formed springs slide down the bars against the fingers 136 from which the endmost one is delivered to the plate 154 by the operation of the spaced arms 137 when the lever 142 is actuated by the cam plate 145 upon the plate 156 when moved to retracted position. The formed spring drops from over the finger 153 and is postioned flat upon the plate 154 located lengthwise by the end camming surface 151.9. The lever 162 is then actuated to advance the plates 156, 154 to deliver the spring to the fingers 168 and the end clamping elements 184; Thereupon, the lever 162 is rocked back to its initial position, retracting the plates 156, 154, leaving the formed spring suspended on the fingers and elements on the bar 173. Meanwhile, the lower kinking blocks 44' have been moved inwardly through the operation of the lever 108 by the cam plate Thereafter, the lever 181 is actuated by the cam plate 64 to lower the bar 173 to deliver the formed spring onto the lower kinking blocks 24. Thereafter, the levers 123 are actuated by. the cam plates 54 and 65 to swing the upper clamping block 46' forwardiy to clamp the formed strip onto the lower blocks 44. Thereupon, the lever 181 is further actuated by the cam slot in the plate 64 to raise the bar 173 to its uppermost position for receiving the next spring to be advanced.

The levers 98 are then actuated by their respective cam plates 52 to 59, 61 to 68, to advance the twisting bars 23 to 35 respectively, whichever thereof are to bev employed conforming to the bends to be made in the formed spring. After the twisting bars have been advanced to engage. the portions of the formed spring aligned therewith, those which are to be twisted are actuated by the operation of thelever 81v to produce the twisting in sequence, the outermost torsion bars to be twisted being twisted first, after which the twisting bars are returned to their initial position and retracted, permitting the next adjacent. torsion bars to be twisted by the twisting bars until all of the bends have been put in theformedspring seriatirn simultaneously at both ends thereof.

After the last twisting bars are twisted and all of the twisting bars have returned to initial position and retracted through the operation of the levers 98, 81, the formed spring is released except for the clamping thereof between the kinking blocks 44 and 46.

During the bending operation on the formed spring, further force is applied to the upper kinking blocks 46 by the action of the levers 123 to causea predetermined kink to be put in the bending bars related with the anvil and notched-portions 45 and '4-7 of the blocks 44-and 46,

. trated in dash line in FIG. 11.

respectively. After the release of the bent formed'spring by the twisting bars, the reverse action of the lever 123' the panel and walls 197 and 198, onto the bottom plate.

from which it will slide out of the side of the machine. Meanwhilc, another of the formed springs 15 has been dropped upon the plate 154 and delivered to the. fingers and elements on the bar 173, with the plates 154. Both kinking and 156 moved to retracted position. blocks 44 are then moved forwardly, permitting the bar 173 to move downwardly to deliver the formed spring thereon onto which it is clamped by the forward angular movement of the upper kinking blocks 46 and the cycle of moving the bar 173 upwardly into receiving position and the advancement, twisting, and retraction of the twisting bar and the bending of the kinking bar is repeated.

It will thus be seen that the machine is completely automatic, operating in conjunction with the spring form ing-machine to receive the. formed spring therefrom and to'bend the formed spring into a desired shape, as illusbars between the. formed ends are bent to provide a contour to the load supporting portion of the resulting. bent. formed spring. The machine isuniversal inoperation in.

that it may be adjusted to any regularly formed. strip. by

the shifting of. the. twisting bars to desired. position. All. or a portion of the twistingbars may be used, certain ones.

of which hold one corner of a loop while the torsion bars at the opposite corners are engaged by other of the twisting bars which twist the torsion bar while. swinging the :outer end portion of the formed spring upwardly or downwardly, as the casemay be. The formed portion is released so that another torsion bar inwardly of theend may next be twisted if several bends are to be made in the spring at one or both ends'thereof. The portion of the. spring between the bent ends is the load supporting portion and in order to obtain contour thereto the bending bars of the strip are then bent by the kinking blocks so that the spring may be changed from a fiat-state to a central arched shape, with the supporting end portions bent thereunder in a desired manner. Very little time is required to change the positions of the twisting bars or to eliminate certain of the bars from operation by disconnecting the operating levers from the cam plates. The fingers and elements on the bar 173 in a similar manner may be adjusted laterally of the bar to have them agree with the length of the formed spring and the location of the loops therein, as pointed out hereinabove.

What is-claimed is:

1'. In a machine for bending and kinking straight lengths; of'formed springs, a fixed base support having a. slot therein, inwardlymovable lower clamping blocks on lengths of formed springs, a fixed'base support having a slot'therein, inwardly movable lower clamping'blocks on the base on each side of the slot, upper clamping: blocks carried by the lower clamping blocks swingable into clamping position therewith, acar-rierfor lowering a formed: spring onto the lower clamping block, means: for movingttheupper clamping blocks for clamping the formed spring, means for returningv the carrier, twisting bars'on said base'support on=both sidesof the slot, means for moving the twisting barsw into engagement with certain' portions of said, formed'springs, and means. for ma Certain of the bending.

-9 tating certain of the twisting bars for twisting portions of said spring before the length of formed spring is bent.

3. In a machine for bending and kinking straight lengths of formed springs, a fixed base support having a slot therein, inwardly movable lower clamping blocks on the base on each side of the slot, upper clamping blocks carried by the lower clamping blocks swingable into clamping position therewith, a carrier for lowering a formed spring onto the lower clamping block, means for moving the upper clamping blocks for clamping the formed spring, means for returning the carrier, twisting bars on said base support on both sides of the slot, means for moving the twisting bars into engagement with certain portions of said formed springs, means for rotating certain of the twisting bars for twisting portions of said spring, means for retracting said twisting bars, means for returning the upper clamping blocks fOr releasing the formed spring, and means for retracting the said lower clamping block for freeing the bent formed spring and permitting it to drop from the slot.

4. In a machine for bending a formed spring having transverse torsion bars joined by bendable bars, a base having upper fixed spaced portions defining a slot, lower clamping blocks at each side of said slot movable into said slot for supporting one of said spring strips, and upper clamping blocks movable downwardly upon the formed spring for clamping it on said lower clamping block, said block being retractable after the spring is bent to permit the bent spring to fall from the slot.

5. In a machine for bending ing transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinally extending bendable bars, a base having a slot near the center, twisting arms at each side of the slot, said twisting arms being adjustable along said slot for positioning them relative to the torsion bars, means for supporting a formed spring aligned with said twisting bars, means for moving the twisting bars inwardly to engage said formed spring, means for rotating certain of said twisting bars to twist certain of said torsion bars for bending the formed spring,

into predetermined formation, means for retracting said supporting means for permitting the bent formed spring to drop from said slot, said supporting means being a block at each side of the slot movable thereinto, a second block carried by said first block hingedly mounted thereon to swing downwardly thereover for clamping a formed spring therein, and anvils extending upwardly from said lower blocks, said upper blocks having notches therein for bending the bendable bars which are engaged by said anvils.

6. In a machine for bending formed spring strips having transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinally extending bendable bars, a base having a slot near the center, twisting arms at each side of the slot, said twisting arms being adjustable along said slot for positioning them relative to the torsion bars, means for supporting a formed spring aligned with said twisting bars, means for moving the twisting bars inwardly to engagesaid formed spring, means for rotating certain of said twisting bars to twist certain of said torsion bars for bending the formed spring into predetermined formation, means for retracting said supporting means for permitting the bent formed spring to drop from said slot, an elevator for transferring formed springs from an adjacent spring' forming machine onto sloping supporting means, fingers forwardly of said supporting means for retaining the formed springs thereon, lifting" elements adjacent to said formed spring strips havfingers for raising the endmost formed spring thereover,

means for actuating said lifting means, a slide beneath said fingers, a plate on said slide onto which a spring lifted over said fingers is received, a carrier above said slot movable downwardly thereinto having releasable supporting means thereon for the formed spring, means for advancing said slide and plate to deliver a formed spring to said supporting means on said carrier, and means for actuating said carrier for lowering the formed spring within said slot. 7

7. In a machine for bending formed spring strips having transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinally extending bendable bars, a base having a slot near the center, twisting arms at each side of the slot, said twisting arms being adjustable along said slot for positioning them relative to the torsion bars, means for supporting a formed spring aligned with said twisting bars, means for moving the twisting bars inwardly to engage said formed spring, means for rotating certain of said twisting bars to twist certain of said torsion bars for bending the formed spring into predetermined formation, means for retracting said supporting means for permitting the bent formed spring to drop from said slot, an elevator for transferring formed springs from an adjacent spring forming machine onto sloping supporting means, fingers forwardly of said supporting means for retaining the formed springs thereon, lifting elements adjacent to said fingers for raising the endmost formed spring thereover, means for actuating said lifting means, a slide beneath said fingers, a plate on said slide onto which a spring lifted over said fingers is received, a carrier above said slot movable downwardly thereinto having releasable supporting means thereon for the formed spring, means for ad vancing said slide and plate to deliver a formed spring to said supporting means on said carrier, means for actualting said carrier for lowering the formed spring within said slot, reciprocable blocks at each side of said slot movable inwardly in position to receive the formed spring from said carrier, and means carried by said blocks for clamping the formed spring thereon which is retained thereby when the carrier is retracted.

8. In a machine for bending formed spring strips having transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinally extending bendable bars, a base having a slot near the center, twisting arms at each side of the slot, said twisting arms being adjustable along said slot for positioning them relative to the torsion bars, an elevator for transferring formed springs from an adjacent spring forming machine onto sloping supporting means, fingers forwardly of said supporting means for retaining the formed springs thereon, lifting elements adjacent to said fingers for raising the endmost formed spring thereover, means for actuating said lifting means, a slide beneath said fingers, a plate on said slide onto which a spring lifted over said fingers is received, a carrier above said slot movabledownwardly thereinto having releasable supporting means thereon for the formed spring, means for advancing said slide and plate to deliver a formed spring to said supporting means on said carrier, means for actuating said carrier for lowering the formed spring within said slot, reciprocable blocks ateach side of said slot movable inwardly in positionto receive the formed spring from said carrier, means carried by said blocks for clamping the formed spring thereon which is retained thereby when the carrier is retracted, twisters at each side of said slot, means for moving said twisters into engagement with certain portions of said formed strip, means for rotating certain of said twisters for bending certain portions of said strip to shape the formed spring in a desired manner, and means for retracting said twisters.

9. In a machine for bending formed spring strips having transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinally extending bendable bars, a base having a slot near the center, twisting arms at each side of the slot, said twisting arms being adjustable along said slot for positioning them relative to the torsion'bars. an elevator for transferring formed springs from an adjacent spring forming machine onto sloping supporting means, fingers forwardly of-said supporting means for retaining the formed springs thereon, lifting elements adjacent to said fingers for raising the endmost formed spring thereover, means for actuating said lifting means, a slide beneath said fingers, a plate on 11 is received, a carrier above said slot movable downwardly thereinto having releasable supporting means thereon for the formed spring. means for advancing said slide andplate to deliver a formed spring to said supporting means. on said carrier, means for actuating said carrier for lowering the formed spring Within said slot, reciprocable blocks at each side of said slot movable inwardly in position to receive the formed spring from said carrier, means carried by said blocks for clamping the formed spring thereon which is retained thereby when the carrier is retracted. twisters at each side of said slot, meansv for moving said twisters into engagement with certain portions of said formed strip, means for rotating, certain of said twisters for bending certain portions of said strip to shape the formed spring in a desired manner, means. for retracting said twisters, and anvils on said blocks, said clamping means having slots therein for producing the bending of portions of said strips over said anvils.

10. In a machine for bending formed spring strips having transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinally extending bendable bars, a base having a slot near the center, twisting arms at each side of the slot, saidtwisting, arms being adjustable along said slot for. positioning them. relative to the torsion bars, an elevator for transferring; formed springs from an adjacent spring forming machine onto sloping supporting. means, fingers. forwardly of said supporting means, for retaining the formed springs thereon, lifting elements adjacent. to said fingers for. raising, theendmost formed spring thereover, means for actuating. said liftingmeans, a slide beneath saidfingers, a plate on: said slide onto which a spring lifted over said fingers is. received; a carrier above said slot movable downwardly thereinto having releasable supporting means thereon for the formed spring, means. for advancing said slide and plate to deliver a-formed spring to said supporting means on said carrier, means for actuating said. carrier for low-- ering the formed spring within said slot, reciprocable blocks at each side of said slot movable inwardly in posi. tion to receive the formed spring from. said carrier, meanscarried by said blocks for clamping the formed. springthereon which is retained thereby when the carrier is retracted, twisters at each side of said slot, means for moving said twisters into engagement with certain portions of said formed strip, means for. rotating certain of said'twisters for bending certain portions of said strip toshape the formed spring in a desired. manner, means for retracting said twisters, anvils on said blocks; said clamping means having slots therein for producing the bending of portions of said strips over. said anvils, and means for retracting. said clamping meansand saidblocks for plermitting said. bent formed spring to-drop from said. s t.

11. A machine for bending straight lengths of formed springs having transverse torsion bars joined.v by longitudinally extending bendable bars, said machine having aslot, clamping blocks at each side of saidslot, means for, delivering a spring upon said clamping blocks when in advanced positiomtwisters at each sidelof the slot aligned with said clamping blocks, means for advancing said twisterswithin the slots for engaging certain portions of said formed spring, said twisters being adjustable. longitudinally of the slot for spacing themrelative to each other, a lever for actuating said twisters having universal joints.

' therein permitting said adjustment, and meansfor actuating said lever for rotating certain of said twisters for bending the formed. spring by, twisting certain of said torsion bars.

12. In a machine for bending straight lengths of formed means-for advancing saidtwisters within the slotsifor en'- gagingcertain portions of said formed'spring, said twisters being adjustable longitudinally of the slot for spacing them relative to each other, alever for actuating said twisters having universal joints therein permitting said adjustment; means for actuating said lever for rotating certain of said-twisters for bending the formed spring by twisting certain of said torsion bars, means for retracting saidtwisters, means for unclamping said clamping means, and means for retracting said clamping means to permit the spring to drop from the slot.

13. In a'machine' for operating on a straight length of formed-spring having loops formed therein by transverse torsion barsjoined by longitudinal bendable bars, a sl'oping receiver on which a plurality of said formed springs are supported, means for delivering a spring from said receiver, a plate for receiving said spring, means for advancing saidplate and spring, a vertically movable carrier having spring=pressed fingers thereon for receiving the advanced spring from said'plate, means for retractingsaid plate, and means for lowering said carrier.

14. In a machine for operating on astraight length of formed spring having loops'formed therein by transverse torsionbars joined by-longitudinal bendable bars, a sloping receiver on which a plurality of said formed. springs are supported, means for delivering a spring from said receiver; a plate for receiving said. spring, means foradvancing said plate and spring, a vertically movable. carrier having spring pressedi fingers thereon for receiving the advanced spring from said'plate, means for retracting'said plate; means for lowering said carrier, a pair ofclamping blocks; and. means for advancing said clamping'blocks toward each other for receiving and clamping said spring lowered by said'carrier causing the spring to be releasedfrom'the carrier when the carrier is retracted.

15. In a machine for operating on a straight length of.

formed spring having loops formed therein by transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinal bendable bars, a sloping receiver on which a plurality of said formed springs. are. supported, means for delivering a spring from said receiver, a plate for receiving said spring, means for advancing said plate and spring, a vertically movable carrier having spring-pressed fingers thereon for receiving the advanced spring from said plate, means for retracting said plate. means for lowering said carrier, a pair of clamping blocks, and means for advancing said'clamping blocks toward each other for receiving and clamping said-springlowered by saidcarrier causing the spring to be released from the carrier when the carrier is retracted, saidblocks having anvils thereon engaging certain of said bendable bars for bending certain of said bendable bars when a pressure greater than. clamping pressure is applied to the blocks;

16. Ina machine for operating on a straight. length of formed'spring'having loops formed therein by transverse torsion bars joined by longitudinal bendable bars, a slopingreceiver on which a plurality of said formed springs are supported, means for delivering aspring from said receiver, a plate for receiving said spring, means for advancing said plate and spring, a vertically movable car-' rier having spring-pressed fingers thereon for receiving thev advanced spring from saidfplate, means for retracting said plate means' for lowering said carrier, a pair of clamping blocks, means for advancing said clamping blocks toward each other for receiving and clamping said spring lowered by saidv carrier causing the spring to be released from the carrier: when the carrier is retracted,

' saidblockshaving anvils thereon engaging certain of said bendable bars forbending certain of said bendable'bars when. a pressure greater than clamping pressure is applied to the blocks, rotatable twisting bars aligned with the spring when clamped on said blocks. means for moving.

said: twisting bars into engagement with certain portions of saidspring, means for'rotating certain of said twisting bars for shaping the formed spring in a predetermined manner, and means for retracting said twisting bars and said clamping blocks permitting the formed spring to drop from the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14 Sirp Jan. 9, 1945 Flaws July 31, 1945 Blumensaadt Oct. 12, 1948 Dauenhauer Apr. 17, 1951 Lincoln Mar. 24, 1953 Fante Aug. 16, 1955 Fante Jan. 15, 1957 Ott et a1. May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Non 3 O22 804 February 27 1962 Paul M, Corp It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8 line 72, after Carrie-r insert befere Lhe length of formed spring is bent column 9 line 2, strlke out before the length of formed spring is benth,

Signed and sealed this 28th day of August, 1962.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Atteeting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

